Effectiveness of sexuality education in preventing teenage pregnancy in the Pinetown district secondary schools
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Sexuality Education as an intervention in preventing teenage pregnancy in the Pinetown district. A focus group of thirty four (35) learners from three different schools was purposefully sampled. Data was collected using structured interview schedules to allow the researcher a platform to ask open-response questions and to understand the learners’ knowledge on preventive measures and the learners’ preferential choices. Data were analysed by carefully identifying and expanding significant themes that emerged from the informants’ knowledge and preferred measures of interventions to prevent teenage pregnancy. The results of the study revealed that learners’ knowledge of preventative measures was limited and an additional challenge was the lack of parental involvement in their children’s sexuality. The participants agreed that sexuality education does provide learners with information that could equip them with knowledge of a healthy sexual behaviour. They maintained that this information could be used when they decided to engage in intimate sexual relationships. However, the knowledge which will ultimately decide their future was quite limited and it was concerning. They seemed to know the contraceptives that were available but the task of accessing them still posed a problem. On the basis of the study results, some valuable recommendations were made which include that the alternatives of accessing contraceptives and the parental involvement in their children’s sexuality may curb teenage pregnancy.
sexuality education --teenage pregnancies --secondary schools
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